oh happy day!

I have recently finished all the books on Ireland that I own. Today I got a gift certificate to amazon.com from my credit card rewards program and ordered a bunch of new ones. I am so excited! Here are the titles I picked out (after long and painful deliberation):

As you can see they are all relating to Northern Ireland. Up till now I have focused on general Irish history. I think its time to focus some attention on Ireland's current issues. Can't wait to start reading!

this makes me smile

"Singing also adds vivacity, buoyancy, and gaiety to our prayers."
- Richard Foster

something beautiful for God

A Prayer by Mother Teresa:

Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you.
Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say:
"Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you."
Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous. I will ever find joy in humouring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers.
O beloved, sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to tend you.
Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.
And O God, while you are Jesus, my patient, deign also to be to me a patient Jesus, bearing with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to love and serve you in the person of each of your sick.
Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and for evermore. Amen.

a little ditty

When I was little we had a tape by Psalty the Singing Songbook. Only one, the camping adventure. I don't remember much about it but I have always remembered this rather profound little song;

I cast all my cares upon you.
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
And anytime I don't know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.

I was just thinking of that song last night, really needing to (once again) express that to the Lord.

serving savior

Today I read the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet in John. Isn't it interesting that he did this to "show them the full extent of his love." The simplest, most mundane act of serving was how Jesus showed the full extent of his love. Not in the huge, grandiose act of dying to save them, but in washing their dirty, smelly feet. (You know, that's also how Mary of Bethany showed her love for Jesus.) Of course, that ultimate display showed the ultimate love. Big, widespread, overwhelming love. But sometimes it isn't the o'er sweeping acts of love, the giant incomprehensible acts that keep us going day to day. They are too big, too unfathomable, to be the thing we hold onto, and Jesus knew that. So he covered all the bases. He showed his love, not just by an ultimate sacrifice, but in simple acts of service. In small words of encouragement and comfort, not just sweeping exhortations and challenges. And isn't that, in the long run, the reason that we love him?

why, oh why , oh why?

Sometimes I can be such an idiot! Where does my common sense go when I need it?! Yesterday I left a bunch of candles in my car thinking 1) it wasn't that hot 2) candles are made to melt at very high temperatures. So this morning I went out to my car to find that my car seat is now one giant candle! Several of the candles melted completely away. The only thing left is the wick! I am not exaggerating. A couple just left giant globs of wax on the seat, and then the rest are just malformed. UGH! (Does anyone know how to clean vast quantities of wax out of upholstery?)